I bought a Tamron 28-75mm back in December, the lens was okay apart from the occasional failure in auto focusing.  About a week ago, I was doing my routine cleaning of my equipments and found part of the black coating within the lens (the bit supporting one of the lens elements has gone).  I have used different lense before but never experience such thing.

Yesterday (monday), I went to Tamron"s office in Kowloon Bay to ask for explanation.  The attitude of the "Engineering" wasn"t too polite.  His explanation was an air bubble got trapped within the lens.  He said it doesn"t happen and I just got luck.  He wouldn"t give me a replacement and there are no spare parts to repair it.

Since I have to return to UK on Thursday, I asked him if it is better to repair it in the UK and he said, "What they do is to use a marker to put the colour back on".  I was shocked because it might not be a Canon or Nikon but that is not repair from my point of view.  He also said it will take him 3 MINUTES to replace a lens element!!!!  The thing that made me mad is that he said, "No body tells you to leave HK.  You decide to give up the warranty (in a very rude tone)!!"

Then, a man (about 40) came in and said his 28-200mm (after being repaired) has failed.  The ENGINEERING took the lens, gave it a shake and a SCREW drop from the lens.  After that, I decided I will not let him repair my lens and I will NEVER buy another TAMRON.

I am not saying Tamron is an awful brand, but the construction and the aftersales service leaves a lot to think about.  I don"t know how camera lense are constructed.  But 3 minutes to replace a lens element???  What about the dust/mositure that will be trapped in the lens when he OPENS it in the office?  The 40 old guy"s lens has fungus in the lens after it was repaired.

If you are planning to get the new Tamron (those which are assembled in China), think carefully.  I thought it wouldn"t be a problem, but it proves to be, for me case at least.